Understand the Product
Before looking for bugs, your first task as a tester is to take a few minutes to understand the product you are testing and the test instructions. For example, a webshop that sells different types of clothes does not work the same way as a website that sells packages via subscription for a specific product; other processes are involved. Look around, and then you can start searching for bugs.
The Main Process
The main purpose of any webshop is to sell its products, which means that the "order process" and everything related to it is considered the most important part of the website. So, this is a good feature to start testing. If you find a bug that prevents a user from making a purchase, there is a high chance it is a critical bug. However, make sure not to place any orders while testing live websites.
Product Categories
Testing product categories is a good place to find bugs, including product detail pages, the main navigation and the search function (if in scope). For example, if the website lets you check out as a guest, it is unnecessary to register a new account first to test the order process because, in this case, you should be able to buy anything as a guest.
Where to Look for Bugs
Ask yourself: what features of this website have several different options/functions? There is a higher chance you will come across a bug there. A good example would be a product category/detail page. Normally, you can find such functions as selecting a size & color, accessing the size guide, adding items to the cart & wish list, applying filters, sorting options, etc.
Other Functions
Testing other parts of the website, including the newsletter, the footer, the header, the landing page, etc. Testing the social media sharing button is also a good idea!
Academy
Remember to read and study the Test IO Academy. It will be your primary source of information during the onboarding process and throughout your career as a tester at Test IO.
Tips
The order process is the main feature of any webshop, so the chances of finding high and critical bugs in this section are higher.
Every time you perform an action and don't get the expected result, it might be a bug. Make further investigation and consider reporting it.
While testing a webshop, you need to think like a regular customer who wants to buy something and discover new products.
Install several browsers and consider testing with all of them – this will increase your chances of finding bugs.
After you submit your bug report, it may take some time to get it reviewed by the Team Leader - use this time to double-check your entries and make necessary edits.
If you receive an information request, answer it within 24 hours; otherwise, your bug report will get automatically rejected.
Quality is the key: submitting a good quality report increases the chances of getting it reviewed faster because the Team Leader won't need to focus on requesting more information.
Please don't report everything as critical. It is part of the tester's job to choose the correct severity.
If you don't find bugs in your first test, check the 'Known Bugs' list; it can inspire you. However, these bugs cannot be reported again.
Many low functional bugs can be found in the links in the footer, a website's header, and social media sharing.
Try to apply a specific approach when testing, e.g. systematically test every function of a page and each of them in combination with each other.
Here is an exemplary bug report with useful notes and tips:
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY BUG HUNTING 😉